The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-05-12
PRACTICAL FARM HINTS

And each brings in present.
Rambler.
PRACTICAL FARM HINTS
The loss offertility in the soil depends
entilely upon the kind Of crop growing
thereon, says the Philadelphia Record,
and the soil is improved or impover-
ished in certain period of time cor
responding with the available and inert
matter it contains and the growth Of
the plants which remove the fertilizing
materials. Some crops enrich the soil
in one respect and impoverish it in an
another by utilizing greater proper
ton of some kinds Of plant food while
rejecting others, thus causing gradu-
al accumulation of some particular
substance which is not required for
growth. This is shown by the growth
Of clover, which adds nitrogen to the
soil. though removing other elements.
The loss by soils does not depend upon
the amount Of plant food removed, but
upon the value thereof. and the loss
does not really occur by growing the
crop upon the land, but in removing
it from the farm to the markets. When
milk is produced the fertilizing element
il i'm the skinl-milk and not in the
cream, and when the manure is scat
tered on the land and the milk fed to
calves and pigs the loss is small. as
butter Is really produced from the air,
through the crop. Butter being COM
posed mostly Of carbon, which is de-
rived from the air by plants in the form
| of carbonic acid gas, does not remove
any of the substances existing
in the soil. 1t has been estimated
that 800 pounds of butter, when sold
off the farm, carries away only SO cents
worth of plant food, and the carcass oi
an OK or horse 80 worth of plant food,
while crop Of wheat. valued at 5000,
causes a loss of nearly $50 worth ol
plant food. If all the crops be fed te
stock on the farm and the manure care
fully saved. the loss is in proportion *
the amount and kind of material sold
which may be modified according to thu
form into which the salable art;~f'
has been changed. Cheese an.
milk take away the most valn
| able elements, vet thes articles
do not command rs high price.
in the market rs butter. which costs
but very little in the shape of fertilizer
to be applied should correspond as near
ly as possible to that which is sold rath
er than to that which is produced ir
order to avoid loss of fertility. Wher
crops are sold the nitrogen, phosphori'
acid, potash and lime are removed, bu
when the sales are made in the shape 0
animals the potash remains mostly il
the manure. Nitrogen and the phos
pilates are essential under all systems
and every pound of fertilizers applies
is simply storing it in the soil to be con
verted into some other form best adapt
ed for market, whether animal or vege
/ table.
GRASS AND CLOVER SEEDING.
| The fears that grass and clover will
be killed by frost if seed be sown to-
early are most imaginary. 1t yer.
rarely happens that even clover is injur
ed by frost, though the growing plan
is extremely tender. Ii sown whel
frost is on the ground. clover seeds arc
of course. dormant until it thaws, whel
they are slightly covered by the mu'
that lies on newly-thawed surface
This protects the seed from the direc
rays of the sun, and it will not sprou
until the soil is warm enough for root
to strike into. II it falls on hard
dry surface, the seed swells with tn
with the moisture of rains and contract
when cold day stops growth, but with
out serious injury. This may occu
several time with March-sown Glove
seed, and, after all, the young plan
will be found in May only slightly,
any, larger thar that sown the middl
of April.
MILK FOR POULTRY.
Hens should have all the milk the
will readily eat. No kind of food, unles
it be eggs, is better adapted to egg pr
duction. Sour milk mixed with bra
will not fatten them, but if given freel
the dishes in which their feed is kel
will need frequent cleaning to prever
them from becoming offensive. Fow
having range will do well enough wit
one feed day, as this will encouras
activity in scratching and picking u
when they can. This one feed should /
given at early daylight in the morning
They will have ravenous appetit
then, and can be given large feedin
without injury. If fed frequent
through the day fowls learn to stan
around waiting. and soon become laz
[ and good for nothing, besides bcin
I more liable to disease.
FROM ONE TICK TO ANOTHER.
In emptying feathers from one tick
another, leave an opening Of 4 col
venient size in the tick to be filled. the
rip, with great care, an opening of IL
same size in the one to be emptied, al
baste the two firmly together before Il
feathers are disturbed. They can the
Z be shaken into their new position an
allowed to settle for little while, Il
openings detached and the pillow close,
With care, the whole process can
accomplished without the escape of
feather.-Country Gentleman.
OBJECTIONS TO CREAMERIEs.
Objection is sometimes made to Il
Y cooperative cream-gathering system